Caltech to Launch Space Solar Power Technology Demo into Orbit

Re:Caltech to Launch Space Solar Power Technology Demo into ... by Dalewyn on Friday January 06, 2023 @01:42AM (#34271722)

For some better context using numbers everyone can understand: 5 km to 6 km is ~16,400 feet to ~19,700 feet. Airliners normally fly around 35,000 feet give or take a couple thousand. Military aircraft can fly upwards of at least 50,000 feet.

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Re:Caltech to Launch Space Solar Power Technology Demo into ... by jeanlou on Friday January 06, 2023 @02:52AM (#34272093)

Some of us are in countries that use the metric system. So "everyone" is quite a sweeping statement.

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Re:Caltech to Launch Space Solar Power Technology Demo into ... by Dalewyn on Friday January 06, 2023 @02:58AM (#34272139)

The aviation industry uses feet for measuring altitude. Doesn't matter if you're a metric or imperial fanboi, the standard is feet for measuring altitude.

Only a handful of countries use meters for measuring altitude, and as far as I'm aware they are feeling the pressure to reform to using feet for sake of consistency (read: safety).

Besides, denoting both meters and feet like I did will guarantee everyone will understand one way or another.

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Re:Caltech to Launch Space Solar Power Technology Demo into ... by kwhitefoot on Friday January 06, 2023 @06:28AM (#34273554)

Fair enough, except that we aren't talking about the aviation industry here.

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Re:Caltech to Launch Space Solar Power Technology Demo into ... by Dalewyn on Friday January 06, 2023 @06:49AM (#34273705)

Except we are, airships are part of the aviation industry unless I'm missing something.

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